Bill C-226: An Act respecting the development of a national strategy to assess, prevent and address environmental racism and to advance environmental justice

Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act . Interpretation Definition of Minister 2 In this Act, Minister means the Minister of the Environment. National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice National strategy 3 (1) The Minister must develop a national strategy to promote efforts across Canada to advance environmental justice and to assess, prevent and address environmental racism. Consultation (2) In developing the strategy, the Minister must consult or cooperate with any interested persons, bodies, organizations or communities — including other ministers, representatives of governments in Canada and Indigenous communities — and ensure that it is consistent with the Government of Canada's framework for the recognition and implementation of the rights of Indigenous peoples. Content (3) The strategy must include (a) a study that includes (i) an examination of the link between race, socio-economic status and environmental risk, and (ii) information and statistics relating to the location of environmental hazards; and (b) measures that can be taken to advance environmental justice and assess, prevent and address environmental racism and that may include (i) possible amendments to federal laws, policies and programs, (ii) the involvement of community groups in environmental policy-making, (iii) compensation for individuals or communities, and (iv) the collection of information and statistics relating to health outcomes in communities located in proximity to environmental hazards. Reports to Parliament Tabling of national strategy 4 (1) Within two years after the day on which this Act comes into force, the Minister must prepare a report setting out the national strategy and cause it to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after it is completed. Publication (2) The Minister must publish the report on the website of the Department of the Environment within 10 days after it has been tabled in both Houses of Parliament. Report 5 Within five years after the report referred to in section 4 has been tabled in both Houses of Parliament, and every five years after that, the Minister must, in consultation with the parties referred to in subsection 3(2), prepare a report on the effectiveness of the national strategy that sets out the Minister’s conclusions and recommendations, and cause the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after it is completed.